Snow cleaning and melting machine



M. S. ARAPIS.

SNOW CLEANING AND MELTING MACHINE.

Patented Ma 25,1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l- 4 APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1919. 1,341,005.

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M. S. ARAPIS.

SNOW CLEANING AND MELTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5,19I9 1,341,005. Patented y 25,1

INVENTOR.

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M. S. ARAPIS.

SNGW CLEANING AND MELTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, L919.

Patented Mai 25, 1920.

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A TTORNE Y.

M. S. ARAPIS.

SNOW CLEANING AND MELTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. 1919.

1,341,005, Patented May 25, 1920.

6 SHE TS-SHEET 4-.

A TTORNE Y.

M. S. ARAPIS.

s'rgow CLEANING AND MELTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1919.

1,341,005. Patented May 25,1920.

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carrier OFFICE.

MICHAEL s. ARAPIS, or SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

SNOW CLEANING AND MELTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 19 20.

Application filed May 5, 1819. Serial No. 294,679.

1 '0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MICHAEL S Anaris, a citizen of Greece, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, iave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snow Clean ing and Melting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to snow cleaning apparatus and more particularly to a machine for expeditiously cleaning and removing snow and ice from public highways and thoroughfares. i

The primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which will operate in connection with a motor truck so that it may be driven forwardly and be operated for thoroughly and effectively removing the snow from the highway and delivering the same into a conveniently located receptacle to be disposed of in any preferred manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character.

which will operate in connection with an ordinary motor truck and which may seemployed for either transporting the collected snow to a dumping point, or which may be connected with a boiler and heating coil for melting the snow whereby it may be discharged in the form of water during the operation of the device.

T he invention further aims to provide an apparatus of this character which will have various conveyers and elevating means for conducting the ice and snow from the surface of the highway to an elevated point where it may be discharged in a suitable receptacle provided on the truck.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of an arrangement whereby the snow and ice may be chopped or broken prior to its collection'by the machine so that the ice and firmly packed snow may be readily picked up by the collecting devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which will derive its power for operating all of the moving parts from the power generator by the motor which drives the truck.

The above and additional objects are accomplished such means as are described in the following specification illustrated in the preferred embodiment and in the accompanying drawings, wherein. like characters trated in Fig. 2. 1

denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and'in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the for ward end ofthe apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a side elevatiompartly broken away of the rear end of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 isa plan View of the portion illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. i is a plan view of the portion illus- 5 is a central vertical, longitudinal sect on of the forward end of the truck.

F g. 6 is a side elevation of the entire truck showing diagrammatically the general arrangement and proportion of parts.

Fig. is a transverse vertical section taken approximately on the line 77 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of a portion of one of the conveyor chains.

Referring to the drawings, wherein is illustrated the preferred form of my invention, the main frame of the apparatus is supported onfwheels so that it will be portable. The rear end of the main frame supports a platform 5 u on .avhich a boiler 6 is mounted. This boi er is of any preferred construction and may be of the usual tvpe employed for the purpose of generating steam. A tank 7 is mounted on the rear end of the frame adjacent the boiler 6 and steam pipes 8 from the boiler are directed into tank through a connecting pipe 9. The pipes 8 are? transversely spaced apart as shown to advantage in! Fig. & and have their? forward terminals connected to a transversely extending pipe 10 .which is oined to a downwardly extending connecting pipe'll which in turn is joined to a return pipe 12 leading back to'the boiler at the lower portion thereof. Within the tank 7 and beneath the pipes 8 is a grating 13 supported on brackets 14: and constructed to provide the foraminous platform or screen 1.5 disposed horizontally near the center of he tank 7. d I

The sidewalls 16 and 17 which are included in the frame structure, extend forwardly from the tank 7 and are provided with upwardly projecting portions 18 directly adjacent the tank 7. The upper ends of these portions 18 are provided with bearings in which is journaled a transversely extending shaft 19 carrying a sprocket 20 having a chain 21 trained thereover and this chain leads from a sprocket 22 on a shaft which is ournaled in the frame and is driven by a sprocket 24 over which a chain 25'is trained, the latter being also engaged by sprocket 26 on a counter-shaft 27 which is journaled in the frame and which in turn is driven by a drive chain 28 which is trained over a sprocket carried by the rear axle 29. Thus the shaft 19 is driven and the same. carries a roller 30 over which a conveyer belt 31 is trained. -This belt is provided with cleats or projections 31 and is' disposed at any preferred angle as shown to advantage 1n F 1g. 5 and has its lower portion trained over a roller 32 mounted on a shaft 33 the, ends of which are journaledin the side walls 16 and 17. Cogs 34 may be provided on the rollers 30 and 32 for engagement with the conveyer belt 31 to prevent slipping and assure continual movement of the conveyor while the device is in operation.

The shaft 23 is also provided with another sprocket over which is trained a chain 35. extending forwardly and passing over a.

of. the chains 38 driven by the shaft 37 is provided with asprocket 39 secured to a shaft 40 journaled in extensions 41 near the lower portion of each side wall, and this shaft carries abrush 42 the bristles of which are adapted to engage and brush the surface of the highway. An inclined shovel 43 dis posed at approximately 30 or any preferred 7 angle has its shovel end 44 disposed in proximity to the brush 42 and its elevated end' is disposed above and in proximity to .thelow'e'r portion of the conveyer belt 31.

This shovelmembe'r 43 is adapted to be swung by virtue of its pivotal mounting on a shaft 45 and it is resilientlyheld in-posi tion by a spring pressed stud 46 projecting through an ear or extension. 47 provided in the frame as shown to advantage'in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawing. The spring mounting thus provided gives sufficient resiliency to the shovelto permit it to readily ride over uneven portions of the, highway. Ar-

ranged above the ;shovel 43 and disposed at approximately the same angle is a conveyer 48 which comprises chains 49 passing over sprockets 50 on conveniently located shafts 51' and 52. The chainsare provided with scraper members 53 which are carried by the certain links of the chain as shown to advantage in Fig. 8. These links, 54 have flanges 55 to. which are attached the scraper blades 56 which engage and scrape the surface of the shovel as shown to advantage in Fig. 5. A brake bar 57 is arranged in position to engage the upwardly moving portions of the chain so that the scraper ele ments will be held firmly in position to effectively scrape the surface of the shovel or scoop 43. The shaft 51 is driven by one of the auxiliary driving chains indicated at 58 and which is trained over a sprocket 59 on the outer extended end of the shaft 51.

Disposed considerably above the conveyer 48 is an endless belt conveyer 60 trained over rollers '61 and 62 mounted respectively on the shafts 63 and 64. The shaft 63 has its ends extended beyond the side walls and transversely'between the walls 16 and 17' and engages the belt 60 as it passes over the roller 61 so that the material will be deposited on the main conveyer 31.

The shovel or scoop 43 acts as a supplemental shovel and secondary to the primary I shovel 67which has a sharp forward edge 68 but is slightly elevated above the surface of the roadway as shown so that the. greater bulk of the snowis scooped by the shovel 67 while a relatively small portion is permitted to remain for engagement by the brush and supplemental shovel 43 The shovel 67 is provided with a conveyer 68 similar. to the.

above described conveyer 48 and of the same general construction as shownin Fig. 5 and includes the scraper elements 69 which engagethe surfaceof the shovel 67 so that all of the material will be forced upwardly while the device is in operation to be depositedon the upper surface of the con veyer belt 60. The conveyer 68 has one of its shafts 70 extended and the sameis provided with a sprocket 71 over which one of the'supplemental chains is trained. as

indicated at 72. This chain is driven by a sprocket on the shaft 37 as shown in Fig. 3. Attached 'to the forward end of the side walls is a mechanically operated chopping device which breaks up the hard snow and ice prior to its engagement by the shovel.

This device includes the housing 74 across which transverse supporting rods 75 are arranged. These rods 75 support brackets 76 in which are journaled the crank shafts 77. The cranksofthe crank shafts 77 are connected to pitmen 78 which are joined to vertically slidably mounted knife heads 79 mounted for sliding movement in guide members 80. The knife heads79. carry the picks or knives 81 whichare adapted to reciprocate with the heads 7 9 when the crank shaft is rotated. These picks 81 will engage the hard snow and ice and break it up so that it will be more readily removed by the following shovels. The knives are mounted so that the points of the picks will be within approximately two. inches of the surface of the highway when in their lowermost positions. The crank shafts 77 are driven by the chains 82 trained over a sprocket on. the shaft 37 and also over a sprocket 83 on a sleeve carried by the extended end of the centermost member 7 o.- The sleeve 84 also carries a gear 85 adapted to mesh with gears 86 on the ends of the crank shaft. Suitable means for engaging and disengaging the gears 86 with the gear 85 may be provided so that the picks may be placed in or out of operation as. desired while the apparatus isin use. The housing 7 4; is removably mounted on the. forward end of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1 and is provided with hooks 88 which are adapted to engage loops 89 carried by the side walls of the main frame. Hinges and removable connections 90 are also provided to facilitate this arbitrary use of the chopping mechanism.

The driver may occupy a seat 91 on an elevated platform 92 and the seat is arranged within convenient reach of a steering wheel 93 which is adapted to operate suitable steering mechanism connected to the forward wheel whereby the device may be steered or guided in the usual manner.

The tank 7 is provided with a hinged door 95 adjacent the foramhious platform l-it and this door may be opened for removing any refuse from. the platform.

In operation, the device may be used in connection with any ordinary commercial truck in order that it may be driven forwardly when in use. l/Vhen the mechanism is started, the apparatus is driven into the snow along the highway and it may be user either with or without the boiler or melting apparatus as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the former showing theuse of the boiler and i the latter illustrating the a paratus with merely a storage tank whereby the snow may be transported to a melting point. Assuming that the boiler and melting apparatus is employed, the apparatus will be moved for-f wardly while the picking devices are in operation and they will effectively chop the hard and frozen snow and ice so that it may be engaged by the primary shovel 67. The greater portion of the snow and ice will thereby be scooped up on the shovel and engaged by the members 69 of the forward conveyer 68. The same will carry the snow upwardly to the conveyor belt which should preferably operate in a substantially horizontal plane so that no cleats will be necessary. This belt will convey the snow to the. main conveyer 31' so, that it will be elevated by the cleats thereon and deposited on a chute 96 disposed within the tank 7 at the upper end thereof. The top of the tank 7 is preferably closed but has an opening 97 through which the snow is reciprocated intothe tank 7. The snow and. ice which is not engaged by the primary shovel 67 will be engaged by the. brush is and. supplemental shovel e3 so that the roadway will be thoroughly cleaned after the supplemental; shovel has passed thereover. The brush will sweep the snow and ice onto the shovel 43 and it will be, carried upwardly bythe scraper element 53., and be deposited onv the main. conveyor 31 and conducted upwardly to be also received into the tank 7 Obviously the snow will be received on. the fo raminous. platform 1e and: inasmuch as the pipes 8 are directed through the space occupied by the snow and ice it will be obvious that they will rapidly melt and the water will pass through the foraminous screen and into the bottom of the tank. The foraminous screen will retain any refuse swept up with the snow and the door 95 may be opened to permit the foraminous platform to be cleaned of the refuse thus aeciunulated. A discharge pipe 98 leads from the bottom of the tank and is provided with a valve 99 which may be opened to open the discharge pipe whereby the water in the tank may be permitted to pass through a conveniently located manhole into the sewer.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings have reference to what might be considered to be the ap aroved or preferred form of my invention. I desire it to be understood that I may make such changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, materials, dimensions,

et cetera, as may. prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a portable frame, an. auxiliary drive shaft supported by the frame, means for driving the auxiliary drive shaft, a pair of reciprocating chopping devices operable at the front of the frame,

crank shafts mounted in the frame and en gageable, with the said chopping devices for actuating the latter, and conveye-r means disposed rearwardly of the said chopping devices, and chain drives connecting the said auxiliary drive shaft with the said crank shaft and, with the said conveying means, said conveying means including shovels longitudinally spaced apart and provided with conveyers having scraper elements adapted to engage the surfaces of the shovel, means to convey the material from the foremost shovel to a point at the rear of and above the rearmost shovel, and a main conveyor disposed to receive the material from the said second shovel and the said conveying means.

2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a portable frame, shovels supported by the frame and in longitudinally spaced relation, conveyers mounted in the shovels, each conveyer being equipped with a plurality of scraper elements adapted to engage'its respective shovel, to scrape the surface thereof, conveyer elements extending from one shovel to the other, and a main cons veyer leadingfrom the rearmost shovel and from below the said conveyer elements to an elevated point at the rear of the frame and a foraminous platform adapted to receive the material from the main conveyer c and equipped With. heating devices to melt the material deposited on the said platform.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a main frame, an auxiliary frame carried forwardly of sa1d mam frame and comprising a plurality of chopping devices, conveyer means disposed rearwardly of said chopping means, and'means for operating sa1d chopping means and said conveyer, sa1d conveying means including shovels longitudinally spaced apart and pro in presence of tWo Witnesses. 7

MICHAEL s. ARAPIS.

Witnesses: Y 7

THOMAS J. OBRIEN, PAUL I. LOMBARD.

In testimony'whereof I afiix my signature 

